266 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CII. XXXVI. 



other game are libelled by being called Dutchmen 

 or Frenchmen. It is certainly true that vast num- 

 bers of white grouse come from Norway. These 

 birds, as well as the capercailzie, are caught or shot 

 as opportunity offers during the winter, are sub- 

 jected to the cold until they are thoroughly frozen, 

 and are kept in that state until a full cargo is col- 

 lected, or at least until a ship sails for London, 

 Hull, or some British port. Although perhaps as 

 many as eighty capercailzies may come over in one 

 ship, it is not to be inferred that these birds are so 

 numerous as to allow of this number being killed 

 in the course of a short time in one place. They 

 are generally obtained in very small numbers. 

 Each peasant brings in one or two : these are all 

 bought up and " frozen " by one general dealer, 

 who periodically, or as opportunity offers, sends 

 them to some poulterer in all-devouring England. 

 The same system is carried on with regard to the 

 Norwegian grouse or ptarmigan ; the facility of 

 freezing the birds enabling the dealers of that 

 country to keep them until they have collected a 

 sufficient number. A capercailzie killed in winter 

 is to my taste scarcely eatable, owing to the strong 

 flavour of turpentine which then pervades the flesh 

 of the bird ; I have, however, eaten one brought 

 over early in the year, and it w^as almost as well- 



